The King's Speech has picked up a number of early prizes at this year's Bafta film awards.

Helena Bonham Carter won the Supporting Actress award for her role as the Queen Mother, while co-star Geoffrey Rush picked up the Supporting Actor prize for his portrayal of speech therapist Lionel Logue.

Harry Potter star Emma Watson presented the Outstanding British Film award to the movie. Director Tom Hooper paid tribute to its writer David Seidler and added: "This is absolutely thrilling to win this award in this room with so many colleagues who we have worked with over the years."

The King's Speech, which picked up the first award of the night for Original Music, was also given the Original Screenplay gong.

Earlier, the stars had to dodge the rain on the red carpet as they arrived for the ceremony, with some of the biggest names in the business, including Samuel L Jackson and Danny Boyle, at the Royal Opera House in London for the event.

Host Jonathan Ross opened the ceremony with a string of gags, promising Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais would not get into the building and saying any young actor would have given their right arm for a role in 127 Hours.

James McAvoy presented Bonham Carter with her Bafta. In her acceptance speech, she said: "I'm so used to losing it feels quite strange to win."

Bonham Carter arrived in a restrained black Vivienne Westwood outfit after making headlines at the Golden Globes when she turned up in mis-matched shoes.

The award for Outstanding Debut was presented by Kevin Spacey, who Ross described as "an honorary Englishman", to Chris Morris for his film Four Lions, which took a satirical look at home-grown Islamist terrorists.

A special award was then presented to the Harry Potter series for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema.